Carter 2 HRs, Springer HR, Astros win 5th in row

Associated Press

5:16 PM, May 28, 2014

Norichika Aoki #23 of the Kansas City Royals falls to the ground to avoid being hit by a pitch during the 5th inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Kauffman Stadium on May 28, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri.

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Chris Carter hit two home runs, George Springer set a rookie club record for homers in a month and the Houston Astros beat the Kansas City Royals 9-3 Wednesday for their fifth straight win.

The Astros, with the worst record in the AL, won three times in Kansas City for their first sweep of the season. Houston's winning streak is its longest since a six-game string that ended last June 3.

The Royals have lost four in a row.

Carter, been benched the previous three games with a .192 batting average, homered to lead off the fifth. He hit a three-run homer in sixth off reliever Louis Coleman for his fourth career multihomer game and his first this season.

Springer homered off Danny Duffy (2-5) in the first for his ninth home run in May. Glenn Davis held the Astros' rookie record with eight home runs in September 1985.

Springer also walked twice and was hit by a pitch.

Carlos Corporan had three hits with a walk. He drove in a run as the Astros outscored the Royals 21-5 in the series.

Jarred Cosart (4-4) gave up one earned run and four hits in five innings.

Duffy allowed six runs on seven hits and five walks in four-plus innings. The first four Royals pitchers combined to walk 10, which was a season high.

Brett Hayes singled in the Kansas City fifth to snap an 0-for-27 skid to begin the season. He homered in the seventh, the Royals' first home run in nine games.

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